Pres. Park shoud restore communication

Last week, deputy prime minister for the economy Choi Kyung-hwan urged to pass the supplementary budget quickly in the National Assembly to maximize its effect for kick-starting the struggling economy. Extra budget needs to be approved in a swift manner to revive the flame for economic recovery, according to the economy minister. However, ruling Saenuri floor leader Yoo Seung-min, who has to lead and coordinate efforts to approve the supplementary budget in the Assembly, is now under intense pressure for resignation by President Park Geun-hye and pro-Park (supporters of Park) faction inside the ruling party. The pro-Park faction shows a movement to call for resignation of Yoo at the party’s Supreme Council on Jul. 8.

Saenuri’s party constitution Article 8 stipulates, “Party actively supports the president’s administration of the state affairs and holds responsibility for the result along with the president.” President Park’s exercising the right of veto to revised National Assembly Law on Jun. 25 and expressing distrust to the opposition party and Saenuri floor leader Yoo can be understood in this regard. Floor leader Yoo offered an apology on Jun. 26, saying, “I cannot stop feeling sorry for having been unable to support the president`s commitment to government administration." This apology must have come from recognition of principles in the party constitution.

Even so, it is hard to understand why pro-Park faction raises a possibility of the party split and argues, “There will be no consensus between the ruling party and the administration without resignation of Yoo,” or “Pro-Park faction is willing to dissolve the party leadership through resignation of pro-Park Supreme Council members.” Such irrational demand raises doubts that the faction is in the struggle for power to rebuild the hegemony in the ruling party considering the general election in the next April and the 2017 presidential election.

At the meeting with Saenuri leadership including party chairman Kim Moo-sung, floor leader Yoo and policy-making committee chairman Won Yoo-cheol in February, President Park stressed that the ruling party, the administration and Blue House must join forces together as one group under the same objectives. Saenuri floor leader Yoo can be blamed for uncoordinated efforts among the three entities to pass the revised Public Officials Pension Act and the National Assembly Law. But Cheong Wa Dae also has responsibility for lack of efforts to communicate with the ruling and the opposition parties.

All the processes in the National Assembly have been suspended due to refusal to participate by the main opposition New Politics Alliance for Democracy, which is in opposition to President Park’s exercise of veto. The economic stimulus bill that President Park has emphasized would be pending in the Assembly, if the ruling party’s internal discord continues. Emotional sentiment is sensed from the president’s criticism against floor leader Yoo. Even though Yoo is primarily responsible for what has happened, such emotional reaction won’t do any good for the nation and the public. President Park and Saenuri leadership must stop the blame-game. The ruling party and the administration must think through how the public would see this feud. Above all, President Park is accountable for resolution of the tangled state affairs by taking more flexible attitude.